FCT splashes N10m on athletes, officials

Federal Capital Territory Minister, Mohammed Bello, has rewarded young athletes and officials that represented the Abuja at the 3rd National Youths Games in Ilorin last year September handsomely. At the award ceremony took place at the International Conference Centre, rewards were given in form of cash and scholarships.

A total number 43 athletes, coaches and officials benefited. Each gold medalist including their coaches and officials received a sum N3OO,OOO, silver medalist N2OO,OOO while bronze medalist got N1OO,OOO. five female handballers who distinguished themselves at games were offered scholarships up to university level.

The beneficiaries are Favour Abdullahi, Lilian Daniel, Joy David, Nancy Joshua and Eunice Micah. Also lucky that night is Ikechukwu Osadebe who was awarded a scholarship by former Inspector General of Police Dr. Mike Okiro for his dexterity. Others who were recognised are past directors, sports chairmen and philanthropists such Dr. Okiro, Alhaji Sanni Lulu, Alhaji Alim Musa, Mr. Ifedayo Akindoju and Engineer Emeka Onyeama among others.

Ogu: Tammy Abraham will want to represent Nigeria

John Ogu believes Chelsea’s in-form striker Tammy Abraham, as well as Nigerian-born players, will all want to represent the Super Eagles considering the array of talent in the squad.

Despite representing England at youth level and having featured for the senior team in a non-competitive game, the 21-year-old is still eligible to play for the three-time African champions, through his Nigerian parents.

Abraham has been in excellent form for the Stamford Bridge outfit, scoring seven goals in five league games, including his first hat-trick in their 5-2 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.

Emery: I was with Garcia when he was sacked

Arsenal head coach Unai Emery has revealed he was with Javi Gracia in his hometown, discussing Sunday’s upcoming match against Watford, when they learned he had been sacked.

Watford took the decision to part company with Gracia last Saturday, just five games – three of which ended in defeat – into the new campaign, and five months after he led them out at the FA Cup final.

Gracia was quickly replaced by Quique Sanchez Flores, making his return to Watford three years after his departure from Vicarage Road.

Unfortunately for Gracia, the news of his sacking coincided with the chance meeting of his close friend, Emery, in Spain.

“It’s amazing,” said Emery. “I met him, we found each other last week in my town, in Hondarribia, when I was there with my family.

“I was walking and in front of us was Javi Gracia. And in the moment we started speaking about our match, and we finished it knowing he was sacked. It’s a good story, yes?

“He is a very good coach, as he showed last year in Watford.

“The club decided, and I have to respect that. He is going to work and he is going to continue his career like he is, like a great coach.”

Emery may have to reconsider his approach for Sunday’s trip to Watford with a new man in charge of the Hornets, but he is familiar with Sanchez Flores.

Emery’s Valencia were knocked out of the Europa League at the quarter-final stage in 2010 by Sanchez Flores’ Atletico Madrid – the eventual winners of the tournament, reports skysports.

“I remember it,” he said. “Every coach, every player, every person in football remembers some things. I remember we drew 2-2 at home and we drew 0-0 away.

“In the last minute the referee did not give us an amazing penalty for the opportunity to win. In my way, everything that happened to me is something to learn from, for experience.

“Sometimes it’s positive, at the moment more positive, but also negative. I learned from it all.”

EPL: Guardiola defends players after shock Norwich defeat

Pep Guardiola could only put his hands up after Norwich pulled off the shock of the season so farto leave Manchester City five points behind Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.

Despite a late rally City were unable to claw anything out of a game Norwich had led from the 19th minute. Guardiola refused to criticise his players after the match, however, and warned his rivals that the title is a long way from over.

“Big congratulations for Norwich on how well they have done,” Guardiola said. “We didn’t concede too much in terms of chances, Bournemouth had more chances against us. But in the end we weren’t strong enough in either box. We learn from that.

“We knew the quality of Norwich because they destroyed the Championship last season. They have the confidence to play. In some moments we didn’t play quite well. We had chances to equalise in the game but in the end congratulations to them.”

Norwich’s third goal came about after Emi Buendía caught Nicolás Otamendi in possession on the edge of the Manchester City box. Guardiola refused to criticise the player, though he was clear that a mistake had been made, reports the Guardian.

“Nico doesn’t really know someone is coming and nobody tells him”, Guardiola said in defence of his player. “Sometimes you know we make mistakes. I think sometimes we forget these guys are human. Football is quick, things can go wrong and I must see what I can do to help them.

“Five points [behind Liverpool] is five points but we are in September. What are we supposed to do? Say: ‘It’s September and congratulations to Liverpool you are champions’? Not for one second am I going to doubt my players.”

Fury rushed to hospital after suffering bad eye injury in Wallin win

A bloodied Tyson Fury has been rushed to hospital after suffering a significant early double-cut in his hard-fought victory over Otto Wallin on Saturday night.

Fury, who finished the fight with his white shorts stained pink, sustained a large gash above his eyebrow and a smaller one in his eyelid in the third round and a constant trickle of blood troubled him for the remainder of the bout.

Despite Wallin thinking he had done enough the win in Las Vegas was an unanimous one for Fury, 116-112, 117-111, 118-110.

After claiming the triumph and maintaining his unbeaten record, Fury was sent to hospital because of the cuts, meaning he wold not attend the post-fight press conference.

This fight was intended as a stop-gap fight ahead of an expected rematch with Deontay Wilder in February but if Fury was hoping to make a statement this was not it.

And trainer Ben Davison was honest in his assessment of the fight, believing that Fury showed all his undoubted ability and grit to produce a battling performance.

Davison said: “We stayed calm. Obviously we knew it was bad, but we stayed calm and got the job done.

“Obviously he was struggling to see, but he had to make it look like he wasn’t struggling to see.

“You saw, the engine from a big man. That shows what Tyson is, because on his worst night he can do that.

“The cut wasn’t the best possible preparation (for Wilder), but the 12 rounds is fantastic.”

Fury added: “It was a great fight, I got caught on the eye and that changed the fight. For the majority I could not see out of the eye. Then there was a clash of heads and I got cut again.

“I hit him with some good shots, some big body shots.

“A good 12 rounds, he was tough. Deontay Wilder, I want you next, bum. That’s my fourth fight, it has put me in good stead for the big dosser, February 22nd. Let the cut heal, have some time to relax with the family.

“I haven’t seen the cut, it feels quite bad, but I’m the Gypsy Warrior. It’s all heart and determination. If I can keep going, I will keep going. He was 20-0 didn’t know how to lose but he does now.”

Fury rushed to hospital after suffering bad eye injury in Wallin win

A bloodied Tyson Fury has been rushed to hospital after suffering a significant early double-cut in his hard-fought victory over Otto Wallin on Saturday night.

Fury, who finished the fight with his white shorts stained pink, sustained a large gash above his eyebrow and a smaller one in his eyelid in the third round and a constant trickle of blood troubled him for the remainder of the bout.

Despite Wallin thinking he had done enough the win in Las Vegas was an unanimous one for Fury, 116-112, 117-111, 118-110.

After claiming the triumph and maintaining his unbeaten record, Fury was sent to hospital because of the cuts, meaning he wold not attend the post-fight press conference.

This fight was intended as a stop-gap fight ahead of an expected rematch with Deontay Wilder in February but if Fury was hoping to make a statement this was not it.

And trainer Ben Davison was honest in his assessment of the fight, believing that Fury showed all his undoubted ability and grit to produce a battling performance.

Davison said: “We stayed calm. Obviously we knew it was bad, but we stayed calm and got the job done.

“Obviously he was struggling to see, but he had to make it look like he wasn’t struggling to see.

“You saw, the engine from a big man. That shows what Tyson is, because on his worst night he can do that.

“The cut wasn’t the best possible preparation (for Wilder), but the 12 rounds is fantastic.”

Fury added: “It was a great fight, I got caught on the eye and that changed the fight. For the majority I could not see out of the eye. Then there was a clash of heads and I got cut again.

“I hit him with some good shots, some big body shots.

“A good 12 rounds, he was tough. Deontay Wilder, I want you next, bum. That’s my fourth fight, it has put me in good stead for the big dosser, February 22nd. Let the cut heal, have some time to relax with the family.

“I haven’t seen the cut, it feels quite bad, but I’m the Gypsy Warrior. It’s all heart and determination. If I can keep going, I will keep going. He was 20-0 didn’t know how to lose but he does now.”

Boxing: Bloodied Fury beats Wallin on points

Tyson Fury battled to a rugged points win over Otto Wallin as he fought for over nine rounds with heavy cuts to maintain his unbeaten record in a dramatic bout in Las Vegas.

The 31-year-old Briton, a 1-25 favourite with bookmakers, was expected to walk through Sweden’s Wallin but found his cut at the mercy of repeated checks from the ringside doctor, prompting moments of stunned silence at the T-Mobile Arena.

A punch in the third round drew blood above Fury’s right eye and when officials began to show concern, he visibly showed urgency, switching from patient boxing to planting his feet in a bid to land heavy, destructive shots.

He did, with a barrage in the ninth forcing Wallin to sway before a hard right hand piled him into the ropes in the 11th as Fury came through the type of examination few expected with a unanimous 116-112 117-111 118-110 points win.

“It was a great fight, I got caught on the eye and that changed the fight,” said Fury. “For the majority I could not see out of the eye. Then there was a clash of heads and I got cut again.

“A good 12 rounds, he was tough. It’s all heart and determination if I can keep going I will do. He was 20-0, didn’t know how to lose but I was the better man.”

Wallin said: “I did everything I could, I tried my best and Tyson is a great champion. Nobody can question my heart or question that I’m a good fighter.”

Wallin, who lost for the first time in 21 outings, was seen as an easy night’s work on Fury’s route to a rematch with WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder but he admitted he tried to hit Fury’s cut “even more” and his come-forward tactics delivered a true scrap.

Had the bout been stopped because of the cut, Wallin would have landed a technical knockout win and with ringside medics checking the gash during the sixth and before the seventh round, Fury was nearing a crisis scenario.

Just as he did when he climbed from the canvas to force Wilder backwards in the final round of their December thriller, he fought fire with fire. His punches beams menacing, his face filled with anger rather than poise andtwo huge right hands sent Wallin backwards in the seventh, reports the BBC.

Boxing: Bloodied Fury beats Wallin on points

Tyson Fury battled to a rugged points win over Otto Wallin as he fought for over nine rounds with heavy cuts to maintain his unbeaten record in a dramatic bout in Las Vegas.

The 31-year-old Briton, a 1-25 favourite with bookmakers, was expected to walk through Sweden’s Wallin but found his cut at the mercy of repeated checks from the ringside doctor, prompting moments of stunned silence at the T-Mobile Arena.

A punch in the third round drew blood above Fury’s right eye and when officials began to show concern, he visibly showed urgency, switching from patient boxing to planting his feet in a bid to land heavy, destructive shots.

He did, with a barrage in the ninth forcing Wallin to sway before a hard right hand piled him into the ropes in the 11th as Fury came through the type of examination few expected with a unanimous 116-112 117-111 118-110 points win.

“It was a great fight, I got caught on the eye and that changed the fight,” said Fury. “For the majority I could not see out of the eye. Then there was a clash of heads and I got cut again.

“A good 12 rounds, he was tough. It’s all heart and determination if I can keep going I will do. He was 20-0, didn’t know how to lose but I was the better man.”

Wallin said: “I did everything I could, I tried my best and Tyson is a great champion. Nobody can question my heart or question that I’m a good fighter.”

Wallin, who lost for the first time in 21 outings, was seen as an easy night’s work on Fury’s route to a rematch with WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder but he admitted he tried to hit Fury’s cut “even more” and his come-forward tactics delivered a true scrap.

Had the bout been stopped because of the cut, Wallin would have landed a technical knockout win and with ringside medics checking the gash during the sixth and before the seventh round, Fury was nearing a crisis scenario.

Just as he did when he climbed from the canvas to force Wilder backwards in the final round of their December thriller, he fought fire with fire. His punches beams menacing, his face filled with anger rather than poise andtwo huge right hands sent Wallin backwards in the seventh, reports the BBC.

Boxing: Bloodied Fury beats Wallin on points

Tyson Fury battled to a rugged points win over Otto Wallin as he fought for over nine rounds with heavy cuts to maintain his unbeaten record in a dramatic bout in Las Vegas.

The 31-year-old Briton, a 1-25 favourite with bookmakers, was expected to walk through Sweden’s Wallin but found his cut at the mercy of repeated checks from the ringside doctor, prompting moments of stunned silence at the T-Mobile Arena.

A punch in the third round drew blood above Fury’s right eye and when officials began to show concern, he visibly showed urgency, switching from patient boxing to planting his feet in a bid to land heavy, destructive shots.

He did, with a barrage in the ninth forcing Wallin to sway before a hard right hand piled him into the ropes in the 11th as Fury came through the type of examination few expected with a unanimous 116-112 117-111 118-110 points win.

“It was a great fight, I got caught on the eye and that changed the fight,” said Fury. “For the majority I could not see out of the eye. Then there was a clash of heads and I got cut again.

“A good 12 rounds, he was tough. It’s all heart and determination if I can keep going I will do. He was 20-0, didn’t know how to lose but I was the better man.”

Wallin said: “I did everything I could, I tried my best and Tyson is a great champion. Nobody can question my heart or question that I’m a good fighter.”

Wallin, who lost for the first time in 21 outings, was seen as an easy night’s work on Fury’s route to a rematch with WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder but he admitted he tried to hit Fury’s cut “even more” and his come-forward tactics delivered a true scrap.

Had the bout been stopped because of the cut, Wallin would have landed a technical knockout win and with ringside medics checking the gash during the sixth and before the seventh round, Fury was nearing a crisis scenario.

Just as he did when he climbed from the canvas to force Wilder backwards in the final round of their December thriller, he fought fire with fire. His punches beams menacing, his face filled with anger rather than poise andtwo huge right hands sent Wallin backwards in the seventh, reports the BBC.

Boxing: Bloodied Fury beats Wallin on points

Tyson Fury battled to a rugged points win over Otto Wallin as he fought for over nine rounds with heavy cuts to maintain his unbeaten record in a dramatic bout in Las Vegas.

The 31-year-old Briton, a 1-25 favourite with bookmakers, was expected to walk through Sweden’s Wallin but found his cut at the mercy of repeated checks from the ringside doctor, prompting moments of stunned silence at the T-Mobile Arena.

A punch in the third round drew blood above Fury’s right eye and when officials began to show concern, he visibly showed urgency, switching from patient boxing to planting his feet in a bid to land heavy, destructive shots.

He did, with a barrage in the ninth forcing Wallin to sway before a hard right hand piled him into the ropes in the 11th as Fury came through the type of examination few expected with a unanimous 116-112 117-111 118-110 points win.

“It was a great fight, I got caught on the eye and that changed the fight,” said Fury. “For the majority I could not see out of the eye. Then there was a clash of heads and I got cut again.

“A good 12 rounds, he was tough. It’s all heart and determination if I can keep going I will do. He was 20-0, didn’t know how to lose but I was the better man.”

Wallin said: “I did everything I could, I tried my best and Tyson is a great champion. Nobody can question my heart or question that I’m a good fighter.”

Wallin, who lost for the first time in 21 outings, was seen as an easy night’s work on Fury’s route to a rematch with WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder but he admitted he tried to hit Fury’s cut “even more” and his come-forward tactics delivered a true scrap.

Had the bout been stopped because of the cut, Wallin would have landed a technical knockout win and with ringside medics checking the gash during the sixth and before the seventh round, Fury was nearing a crisis scenario.

Just as he did when he climbed from the canvas to force Wilder backwards in the final round of their December thriller, he fought fire with fire. His punches beams menacing, his face filled with anger rather than poise andtwo huge right hands sent Wallin backwards in the seventh, reports the BBC.

Boxing: Bloodied Fury beats Wallin on points

Tyson Fury battled to a rugged points win over Otto Wallin as he fought for over nine rounds with heavy cuts to maintain his unbeaten record in a dramatic bout in Las Vegas.

The 31-year-old Briton, a 1-25 favourite with bookmakers, was expected to walk through Sweden’s Wallin but found his cut at the mercy of repeated checks from the ringside doctor, prompting moments of stunned silence at the T-Mobile Arena.

A punch in the third round drew blood above Fury’s right eye and when officials began to show concern, he visibly showed urgency, switching from patient boxing to planting his feet in a bid to land heavy, destructive shots.

He did, with a barrage in the ninth forcing Wallin to sway before a hard right hand piled him into the ropes in the 11th as Fury came through the type of examination few expected with a unanimous 116-112 117-111 118-110 points win.

“It was a great fight, I got caught on the eye and that changed the fight,” said Fury. “For the majority I could not see out of the eye. Then there was a clash of heads and I got cut again.

“A good 12 rounds, he was tough. It’s all heart and determination if I can keep going I will do. He was 20-0, didn’t know how to lose but I was the better man.”

Wallin said: “I did everything I could, I tried my best and Tyson is a great champion. Nobody can question my heart or question that I’m a good fighter.”

Wallin, who lost for the first time in 21 outings, was seen as an easy night’s work on Fury’s route to a rematch with WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder but he admitted he tried to hit Fury’s cut “even more” and his come-forward tactics delivered a true scrap.

Had the bout been stopped because of the cut, Wallin would have landed a technical knockout win and with ringside medics checking the gash during the sixth and before the seventh round, Fury was nearing a crisis scenario.

Just as he did when he climbed from the canvas to force Wilder backwards in the final round of their December thriller, he fought fire with fire. His punches beams menacing, his face filled with anger rather than poise andtwo huge right hands sent Wallin backwards in the seventh, reports the BBC.